CNET Top 5: Tech gifts for mom (that aren't an iPad)

Hey, IÃ¯Â¿Â½m Molly Wood from CNET dot com in for Brian Cooley
with my annual Top 5 stand-in gig Ã¯Â¿Â½ the Top 5 tech gifts for
MotherÃ¯Â¿Â½s Day.
Now, before we start, I am assuming that you already got your
mom, or your wife, or yourself an e-reader, a tablet of some sort,
or a smartphone.
If NOT, then do not pass go just yet.
A Kindle,
pre-loaded with 50 Shades of Gray, always going to be a winner.
iPad or Kindle Fire, no brainer.
Smartphone?
Must.
Have.
But
that list gets kind of old, so I put together a list of five OTHER
ideas that I know will be a hit with the ladies.
Well, four other
ideas and one smartphone.
Coming in at number five Ã¯Â¿Â½
The Nokia Lumia 900
Just in case she doesnÃ¯Â¿Â½t have a smartphone, or is ready for a
new one, I think the Lumia 900 is a stylish and different choice--
itÃ¯Â¿Â½s not an iPhone, and itÃ¯Â¿Â½s not as EXPENSIVE as an iPhone,
either.
ItÃ¯Â¿Â½s 99 bucks, itÃ¯Â¿Â½s good looking and itÃ¯Â¿Â½s super easy to use
in a way thatÃ¯Â¿Â½s great for a new smartphone user.
And itÃ¯Â¿Â½s a good
bet your mom isnÃ¯Â¿Â½t a total app freak, so as long as itÃ¯Â¿Â½s got Angry
Birds, itÃ¯Â¿Â½s good to go!
DonÃ¯Â¿Â½t worry, it has Angry Birds.
Mom
phone!
Coming in at number 4, itÃ¯Â¿Â½s the Bose Quiet Comfort 15 noise-
canceling headphones.
If your mom is a commuter, she travels a lot, or she just needs
some instant alone time, these headphones are like the new
Calgon Ã¯Â¿Â½ they take you away.
TheyÃ¯Â¿Â½re comfortable, their active
noise-canceling tech removes outside distractions, and they
really do sound amazing.
Plus, theyÃ¯Â¿Â½re stylish, so you donÃ¯Â¿Â½t look
like dork -- but you do give off a strong Ã¯Â¿Â½leave me aloneÃ¯Â¿Â½ vibe.
Perfect.
TheyÃ¯Â¿Â½re not as compact as in-ear buds, of course, and at
300 bucks, are they are NOT cheap.
But trust me, I just took my
first trans-Atlantic flight with these babies, and I would have paid
double for them.
ItÃ¯Â¿Â½s like your own personal cone of silence.
Number three on the list Ã¯Â¿Â½ the Jawbone Jambox.
iPhone and iPod speaker docks are always a great gift idea, and
the Jambox takes the concept to the next level.
ItÃ¯Â¿Â½s a super
stylish little Bluetooth speaker that actually sounds pretty good.
It
comes in multiple colors -- everyone who sees this thing falls in
love with it.
And itÃ¯Â¿Â½s so portable that you can use it anywhere in
the house -- like for streaming relaxing music while youÃ¯Â¿Â½re taking
a nice long bubble bath -- or out in the garden, or even on
weekend getaways.
ItÃ¯Â¿Â½s not cheap, but Ã¯Â¿Â½ well.
You want mom to
feel appreciated, donÃ¯Â¿Â½t you?
At number 2, get her an Apple TV 2!
Roku is usually our favorite
connected TV gift, but letÃ¯Â¿Â½s face it, iTunes has SO much content
Ã¯Â¿Â½ even Game of Thrones episodes, and all those movies Ã¯Â¿Â½ and
it is so easy to use and attractive.
Plus, it can stream music,
video, and pictures from an iPhone or iPad, and it has Netflix and
a couple of other video streaming services.
If youÃ¯Â¿Â½ve already
bought a lot of iTunes content, especially, this 99 bucks is totally
worth it.
Before I get to my number one mom pick of the year, I have to
give you a little advice to stay out of trouble.
Here are some tech
gifts NOT to get mom this year.
DonÃ¯Â¿Â½t get her a pink gadget.
No pink cell phones or digital
camera Ã¯Â¿Â½ if you think she wants something cute and pink, get a
cell phone case.
Or a kitten.
Digital picture frames are over.
They are complicated and
annoying and no one ever updates the pictures on them.
DonÃ¯Â¿Â½t
bother.
Do NOT get her a WiFi scale, and you shouldnÃ¯Â¿Â½t even have to
ask why not.
And IÃ¯Â¿Â½m sure it SEEMS like a good idea, but donÃ¯Â¿Â½t get her a
Roomba.
You know what sheÃ¯Â¿Â½d rather have?
A cleaning lady.
And with that, letÃ¯Â¿Â½s get to my top pick for MotherÃ¯Â¿Â½s Day tech this
year Ã¯Â¿Â½
The Nest thermostat
I know, a thermostat sounds like a crazy gift.
But women are
GOING crazy for this thing.
CNET Editor in Chief AND MOM
Lindsey Turrentine gave it a perfect five star review.
Because
why?
It looks gorgeous in your house, it does cool little things
like report the weather and show you exactly how much energy
you use in pretty little charts.
And itÃ¯Â¿Â½s networked, which means
you can control the weather in your own home from your phone,
whether youÃ¯Â¿Â½re snuggled under the covers or in a boring meeting
at work.
Trust me.
Nest thermostat.
ItÃ¯Â¿Â½s the bomb.
You can install
it for her, too.
And thatÃ¯Â¿Â½s it for this year, everyone.
Find all the CNET Top 5
videos at CNETTV dot com and happy MotherÃ¯Â¿Â½s Day!